Silva Gets Title Shot with Win over Adesanya

Anderson Silva will compete for the first time in two years at UFC 234 in February when he faces up-and-coming middleweight contender Israel Adesanya. And now, Silva officially has something to fight for.

UFC President Dana White has confirmed Silva will receive a middleweight title shot with a win. In fact, he says, it’s what got him to take the fight with Adesanya.

“I flew out to Los Angeles and we sat down and talked,” White said. “I told him I wanted the Israel Adesanya fight and he says, ‘I’m just coming back. How does that make sense for me?’ I said it makes sense for you because if you win I’ll give you the title shot.

“He said, ‘Now you’re talking buddy, I like the way you’re thinking.’ And I love that, I love that Anderson Silva wants to come back and fight Israel for a title shot.”

Between 2006 and 2012, Silva went on a 16-fight win streak, which included 10 consecutive defenses of the UFC Middleweight Title before losing it to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013. Since the loss, 1-3 with one win overturned to a No Contest. If Silva gets another title shot, it will be the first since a rematch with Weidman at UFC 168 in December 2013 — the fight that saw Silva break his leg in the second round.

Adesanya, meanwhile, has won all 15 of his professional MMA bouts, including all four of his UFC bouts. He most recently defeated Derek Brunson last month at UFC 230.

Current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker competes in the UFC 234 main event, defending the title against Kelvin Gastelum.